Roots Of Revenge Chapter 9: Reluctant Compliance, a darkwing duck fanfic

Roots of Revenge

-Chapter 9-

Reluctant Compliance

The sun was still hours away. The city was quiet, the night owls were sure to steer clear of St. Canard central park knowing that S.H.U.S.H. had roped the entire thing off. They were still over turning every leaf and stone trying to find even a tiniest trace of a clue. Somehow they had lost Hammerhead Hannigan, Darkwing Duck, and worst of all Ms. Waddlemyer, who they knew to be in the clutches of Darkwing Duck. He had disappeared right in front of their eyes, leaving nothing to even hint at where they had gone. The tracking device they had planted on the child was found a half an hour ago on a scraggly stray with a foul mean streak. Hammerhead snuck away during Darkwing's dramatic exit. Grizzlicoff leered around the uncooperative foliage. This was turning from bad to horrendous before he could even blink. He wanted nothing more than to wring the necks of the two lawless fiends that broke his perfect plan. Hooter was certain they would find nothing to lead them to Darkwing, claimed he was too clever for that. Grizzli couldn't help but notice the smile that had been on his boss's face as he said that. Surely Hooter wasn't that impressed with this vigilante… was he? The very thought made his blood boil, why should this idiot get praise from the head of S.H.U.S.H. when he has done nothing but make their lives hell? He scratched his massive claws viciously across a nearby tree in retaliation. There was nothing this costumed buffoon could do that he couldn't! A raised root caught his foot and he stumbled. In a wave of immature rage he turned to his attacker and tore off a branch. He looked down at the roots and saw they were all raised, with a glance around it seemed all the trees were frozen in the middle of uprooting themselves. He scratched his head with the severed branch, just what the hell really happened here?

Halfway across the city in a dark alley Hammerhead sat with his back to a slimey brick wall. He tried to recover his wits and his breath, not to mention calm the pounding of his heart. It was no easy task, especially after being mauled by a tree doppelganger of a dead man and running around the city in a suit and dress shoes. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and mopped up his soaked forehead. Had it really happened? Was that thing really Bushroot? No. No it couldn't have been, he must have imagined it. But, the kid and that caped goon had seen it too. Was it real? A shrill ringing sang from his pant pocket and scared him out of his skin. He slowly pulled out the phone and carefully answered it.

"Hammerhead where are you? Mr. Bulba is not pleased." Said Clovis, Bulba's personal assistant, without waiting for a hello.

"Ah… I kinda hit a snag. Tell the boss I'll head over and give him a full report in a half hour. Oh and Angel Face could you make sure Hoof and Mouth meet me in the lobby I gotta tell 'em something." He stood up brushing himself off and regaining his composure.

"…" Clovis cleared her throat. "Hammerhead, Hoof and Mouth aren't here. I've been trying to contact them all night. There has been no answer at either of their apartments."

He sighed. "Make it an hour then."

"Understood."

He hung up, straightened his jacket and went to catch a cab.

The Glomgold Botanical Research Facility was practically deserted. The staff had gone home early due to the investigations and the police search had shut down most of the laboratories. The janitors had finished their rounds and left as well. There was only night security and one other still on the premises. In the late Reginald Bushroot's office Rhoda was pouring over every notebook and file she could find. Her usually silky brown hair was greasy and slicked back into a tight bun, her face was a mess of melted make up that was etched with the tracks of tears. The bookshelves in the office had been emptied in the search, their contents placed all over the barely visible floor. She sat in the middle of the room closely deciphering Reggie's chicken scratch handwriting. There must be something… there had to be something, anything she could find to help return him to how… and who he was. She involuntarily shuddered. That creature was Reggie and wasn't at the same time. There was a struggle going on inside him between the morals of Reggie and the anger of "Bushroot". She had witnessed two murders at the hands of "Bushroot" and she knew, with a sour churn of her stomach, that it was only beginning. He had recognized her and wouldn't hurt her for now, but how long did she have until he would no longer preserve her? She needed to find something to get Reggie to leave "Bushroot" behind. He was still alive and conscious most of the time; she couldn't just let him stay the way he was. She had been searching his notes and reports for hours now, ever since she had last seen him. She tried not to cry again at the thought of him, she just wished her tear ducts would dry out already so she wouldn't waste anymore time sobbing. She had to save him, had to get him back before he killed again.

The dawning sun peeked through the smog and skyscrapers, cheerful and oblivious to the sinister workings that were conducted during the stay of her nocturnal partner. Hammerhead scrambled into the waiting room of Taurus Bulba's office at five fifty-three am. His suit was torn, his face pale and gaunt. His usually pristine shoes were caked in dried blood. There were matching splotches on his suit, face, and hands. Clovis stood and shrieked at the sight of him. His eyes dully focused on her there was a disconnected look about him.

"Sorry I'm late." He bitterly chuckled.

She had no response; all she could manage to do was buzz him into the office. He stumbled over his own feet as he marched into position in front of the desk. It took him a moment to notice the chair before him was empty.

"Vhat de hell happened to yoo?" Came a voice from behind him.

Hammerhead turned and saw the bull, twice his height and weight in muscle. Bulba returned a book he held in his massive hand to it's place on the shelf he had been looking at. Hammerhead closed his eyes remorsefully.

"Boss... I screwed up big time."

"Aparentlee."

"Hoof… and Mouth…dey're dead."

"Vhat?"

"Murdered. Found 'em myself. Barely recognized them…" he cringed recalling his friends' corpses torn to pieces by gnarled vines that looked to have sprouted from the very walls of their homes.

"By who?" Bulba's voice was unsettlingly calm.

"….Reggie Bushroot."

"Vhat?" There was a definite tone of anger in his booming voice.

"I know its crazy Boss! But he's back he's like a… like a tree or something he killed them. I only just got away from him myself!"

"So he's alife."

"He'll be wantin' me next." He shivered as those eyes crept back into his mind.

"Kin you blame him?"

"Boss…" Hammerhead miserably opened his eyes and looked Bulba in his glassy brown eyes.

"Eet ees unfortunate of course to hear about your comrades. However, ze Doktor's revival is quite remarkable. Perhaps it is due to his precious serum?"
"Boss don't make me go back out dere I'm beggin ya! He's got it out for me I got away once I don't know if I'll be so lucky next time."

"Stop snivelink." Snarled the bull. "Yoo still haf a job to do. Waddlemyer's niece ees not in my possession. I vant ze girl today Hammerhead. Or your leetle plant friend will seem like a pleasant tea partner compared to vhat I vill do to you. Understand?"

The ram closed his eyes again.

"Yes sir."

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Agh.. a tiny update but I intend to upload more tomorrow. Thanks for stickin with me guys.